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Elk River Star News
Superintendent seeks advice on potential timeline for repurposing elementary in center of district
by Maggie Stanwood Contributing Writer Superintendent Dan Bittman reported at the Nov. 13 meeting he has consulted with other superintendents who have considered repurposing a school. He said he wanted to learn what approaches have worked in other districts and what approaches have not worked so well to help determine a potential timeline for repurposing...
Senior facility breaks ground in Rogers
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Oct. 26 for NorBella Senior Living of Rogers. This 40-unit assisted living community, located at 21900 South Diamond Lake Road, is expected to be completed by June. Project partners include Vincent Companies, Great Lakes Management and Rachel Contracting. NorBella Senior Living of Rogers will be a single-story facility with 40 units of assisted living and memory care. This community will provide 24-hour support, private bedrooms, and bathrooms, home-cooked meals, physical and mental exercises, housekeeping and laundry services, social outings, and activities.
Rogers OKs purchase agreement for 3-acre city-owned property
The Rogers City Council on Oct. 24 approved a $300,000 purchase agreement from Structure Real Estate, LLC, to acquire a 3-acre portion of city-owned property on the east side of John Milless Drive and the County Road 81 intersection. The developer is proposing to build a new 14,000-square-foot small-bay warehouse building on the site, according to Brett Angell, Rogers Community Development director. The property, currently undeveloped, has “great visibility from I-94,” he said. He said the site will be geared to small-scale and start-up businesses. No complaints have been received from neighboring property owners, Angell said. Mayor Rick Ihli said the plan “will improve that piece of County Road 81 by Miller Chevrolet.” Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2024.
Local wins armor competition at Minnesota Renaissance Festival
by Jessica Charpentier APG of East Central Minnesota/Crow River News St. Michael resident Tony Allen Bernier has won numerous awards for his leather-working and won the armor competition at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival this year. Bernier handcrafted and designed the armor himself. Most of the armor was made around three years ago, but he finished...
Many hands make Rake the Town work light like leaves
Great River Faith in Action’s Annual Rake the Town effort got off to a great success in October. With a little coordination, there were 29 groups that were able to rake more than 43 yards in October. After a rare October snowfall, there were still more groups planning to go out in November. “We are grateful to our amazing community and God who has blessed this community event over the years,” said Maureen Baty, the executive director of the River Faith in Action. ...
Driver killed in Nowthen on Friday night identified.
One man is dead and three people — including two children — were hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash in Nowthen, according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. The deceased was identified as Cole Richard Deiley, 32, of Zimmerman. An investigation into the crash is underway. Initial reports indicate shortly before 8 p.m. Friday a man driving a minivan on northbound Jarvis St. NW struck a “large piece of equipment” being towed by a pickup truck driving the opposite direction. The van’s driver was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office reported. The sheriff's department also reported an adult woman and two juvenile passengers were taken to the hospital. The man driving the pickup was reportedly not injured in the crash.
Driver killed in Nowthen on Friday night identified.
One man is dead and three people — including two children — were hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash in Nowthen, according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. The deceased was identified as Cole Richard Deiley, 32, of Zimmerman. An investigation into the crash is underway. Initial reports indicate shortly before 8 p.m. Friday a man driving a minivan on northbound Jarvis St. NW struck a “large piece of equipment” being towed by a pickup truck driving the opposite direction. The van’s driver was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office reported. The sheriff's department also reported an adult woman and two juvenile passengers were taken to the hospital. The man driving the pickup was reportedly not injured in the crash.
After reaching 100-win milestone, Elks head coach Steve Hamilton is grateful to be in Elk River
Elks head coach Steve Hamilton has been coaching football for more than 25 years. However, he doesn’t know what to expect each day. That’s because Hamilton said predicting the behavior of teenagers, even with all that coaching experience is difficult. Hamilton is the father of two teenage girls himself. “You never know what you’re going to get,” Hamilton said à la Forrest Gump. “Some of the things are so funny...
Update: Level 3 sex offender is not moving to Zimmerman area; Nov. 14 meeting canceled
The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office announced Monday that a Level 3 sex offender, Brent Murray Spafford, is not moving to Sherburne County at this time. Sheriff Joel Brott had earlier said that Spafford was moving to a residence in the vicinity of 245th Avenue NW, southeast of Zimmerman, in mid-November. A public meeting had been scheduled for Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. in Zimmerman to inform residents about him, but the sheriff's office said Monday that meeting has been canceled.
Energy City Commission has four openings, only two candidates
by Maggie Stanwood Contributing Writer The Elk River City Council interviewed two candidates on Nov. 6 for the Energy City Commission: Elk River residents Matthew Fomby and Mirdalys Tweeton. The Energy City Commission currently has four vacancies. Fomby was formerly...
Contract for high school ice time OK’d
As part of the consent agenda for a meeting on Nov. 6, the Elk River City Council approved a contract with the Elk River High School for practice ice time at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center. The district planned to appeal the contract to the Multipurpose Facility Advisory Commission but district representatives were unable to attend the Oct. 9 meeting. According to council documents, staff recommended approving the contract for multiple reasons including: ...
Two Elk River street maintenance employees hired
The Elk River City Council approved hiring two street maintenance operators at its Nov. 6 meeting. According to council documents, the city recently had two resignations in the street maintenance division. The council approved the hire of Samuel Sweat, who previously served in the Marine Corps and who has been working as a seasonal laborer for the city, and Kevin Boser, who previously was a subcontractor for the Dinius Fence Company.
Elk River City Council denies permit for home occupation with findings of fact
The Elk River City Council received a findings of fact for denying a conditional use permit at its Nov. 6 meeting. The permit application was for home occupation including outdoor storage of work vehicles for a home on Yankton Street. The council discussed the permit at a previous meeting, where council members said the proposed use of the site as a painting business didn’t fit in with the residential neighborhood.
Bradford Park final plat approved Nov. 6
The Elk River City Council approved a final plat of Bradford Park on Nov. 6 on its consent agenda. The preliminary plat was approved in July. The plat includes 314 buildable parcels, the first phase of which will include 82 single-family homes. The first phase won’t include park amenities, but the second and third phases will develop the city’s vision for park amenities, according to
Elk River's Clayton Hofteig, 12, wins 2023 Minnesota Micro Sprint championship and Rookie of the Year
In 2015, at just 4 years old, Spectrum Middle School seventh grader Clayton Hofteig began to compete in go-kart races. Hofteig, who is now 12, has since won five Minnesota Micro Sprint championships, including this year. He is also the 2023 Minnesota Micro Sprint Rookie of the Year. He started winning championships at the age of 7. In his most-recent race, Hofteig finished first in the Topless Nationals race at Oglivie Speedway in Oglivie, Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 21. He has won two Maxxis races...
Rogers volleyball wins consolation championship at state tournament
by Erik Nelson Sports Reporter For the first time in program history, the Royals won the last match of the season. Even though it wasn’t the state championship, No. 7 Rogers defeated No. 8 Eagan 3-2 in the Class 4A consolation final on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Xcel Energy Center. The Royals won the first...
To hell and back and there again with PTSD
Founder of Soldier 6 awards service dogs to those who have served in the military and/or public safety careers and suffer from PTSD by Jim Boyle Editor The annual military appreciation dinner hosted by Elk River’s chapter of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon will add another avenue for the organization to help honorably discharged veterans, retirees...
Ask a Trooper: Does the Minnesota State Patrol have K-9s?
Ask a Trooper with Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol Question: Does the Minnesota State Patrol have K-9s? What purpose do they serve? Answer: The Minnesota State Patrol K-9 unit is currently staffed with 15 K-9 teams trained to detect the odor of narcotics, and one team trained to detect explosives. The State Patrol’s dogs are not trained in other typical police functions, such as apprehension or tracking....
Elk River police report: Pursuit ends with crashed and abandoned vehicle; 8 vehicles tampered with; and driver gets a DWI after going into ditch
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor A police pursuit that came into Elk River ended with the suspect vehicle crashing and being abandoned. The Big Lake Police Department had pursued the vehicle at high speeds and came into Elk River around 12:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6. ...
Level 3 sex offender moving to Zimmerman area
A Level 3 sex offender is moving to a Sherburne County residence, and a public meeting has been scheduled to inform residents about him. Brent Murray Spafford, 43, was convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable child in 1999 when he was 19, and he has served his prison sentence. He is moving to a residence in the vicinity of 245th Avenue Northwest, southeast of Zimmerman, in mid-November, according to Sheriff Joel Brott. A community notification meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Zimmerman Public Safety Building, 26750 Fifth St. W in Zimmerman. Law enforcement officials will be present to discuss Spafford and answer questions from residents.
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Elk River Star News serves the Elk River, Otsego, Rogers and Zimmerman communities dating back to 1872. Published Saturdays by APG of East Central Minnesota. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.erstarnews.com
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